The Woman All Spies Fear, Amy Butler Greenfield
The Woman All Spies Fear, Amy Butler Greenfield
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The Woman All Spies Fear
Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life

Author: Amy Butler Greenfield

Narrator: Samantha Desz

Unabridged: 7 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/26/2021

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included

Synopsis

An inspiring true story, perfect for fans of Hidden Figures, about an American woman who pioneered codebreaking in WWI and WWII but was only recently recognized for her extraordinary contributions.

Elizebeth Smith Friedman had a rare talent for spotting patterns and solving puzzles. These skills led her to become one of the top cryptanalysts in America during both World War I and World War II.
 
She originally came to code breaking through her love for Shakespeare when she was hired by an eccentric millionaire to prove that Shakespeare's plays had secret messages in them. Within a year, she had learned so much about code breaking that she was a star in the making. She went on to play a major role decoding messages during WWI and WWII and also for the Coast Guard's war against smugglers.
 
Elizebeth and her husband, William, became the top code-breaking team in the US, and she did it all at a time when most women weren't welcome in the workforce.

Amy Butler Greenfield is an award-winning historian and novelist who aims to shed light on this female pioneer of the STEM community.

*Includes a downloadable PDF of key exercises from the book

About The Author

Amy Butler Greenfield is an award-winning historian and novelist who writes for both adults and children. Some of her work includes Charntress, Virginia Bound, and A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire. An enthusiastic speaker, she has given popular talks at Harvard University's Sackler Museum, the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery, the Los Angeles Public Library, and GCHQ, as well as many wonderful bookstores, classrooms, and lecture halls in between.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Dee on April 27, 2023

Audible 7 hours Narrated by Samantha Desz (A) 4.5 stars I began this book yesterday, March 8, International Women's Day. I spent one of my treasured audible credits based on the short sample offered because I was immediately captured by the subject. This biography of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, written......more

Goodreads review by Deacon Tom on September 05, 2024

4 1/2 stars And the well written and highly detailed account of two of the founding members of cryptology science. 2/3 of the book or maybe 3/4 of the book were exciting. However, the treatment of the couple at the end of the book was a bit depressing. I highly recommend.......more

Goodreads review by Hoover Public Library on March 14, 2022

This American woman pioneered codebreaking in WWI and WWII and brought down rumrunners during Prohibition, but she has only recently been recognized for her extraordinary contributions. 2022 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction finalist!......more

Goodreads review by Lynn on February 11, 2022

This is a wonderfully written biography of an extraordinary woman who NEVER truly received the recognition or respect that she was due. For teen readers today, this glimpse into the cultural and workplace attitudes will be unforgettable and Elizabeth's perseverance will be inspiring. Amy Greenfield d......more

Goodreads review by Wren on December 10, 2023

I was delighted to learn about cryptographer Elizabeth Smith Friedman and the work she did for decades on codebreaking. Her husband also was a cryptographer, which often meant she lived in his shadow. However, this book does a great job of describing her contribution to the world of codebreaking. Wh......more

Quotes

“A captivating account of the life and critical contributions of 'one of the most formidable code breakers in the world.'” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
 
“Greenfield delivers the tale with enthusiasm and narrative flair, including lots of photos of her photogenic subject.” —The Bulletin, starred review

“Inspiring, informative, and entertaining.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

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